I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Google in Apr 2012
Interview
Google seems to have a highly formulaic interview process. My interview was basically exactly like every other experience of Product Manager interviews you'll find online. "Design a better alarm clock, what do you think of Google product X, etc." I spoke to two different product managers; both seemed to be reading from the same script. The interviews were exactly 45 minutes long, with no questions about experience, accomplishments etc.
In my personal case, I have over 15 years of experience developing some pretty innovative software, so it was somewhat off-putting to be interviewed by 25-year-olds reading from a script, but it seems like that's their process and they're not going to adapt it.
Doesn't seem that innovative, really.
Once the process started, the recruiter didn't come back with feedback - I had to prompt him to get updates (even 1 week after interviews had passed).
So overall, I don't feel like I'm missing much by not getting hired there.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Google (Mountain View, CA) in Mar 2012
Interview
Recruiter contacted me after a referral from a Googler, former classmate.
After first assessment, I was set for another interview with a current PM. The interviewer explained the overall setup and then asked questions about Google's major challenges going forward and what I would do to overcome them.
He also through some quizzes at me, such as "You have 25 horses and a 5-horse race track. What is the minimum number of races you have to run to find the 3 fastest horses ?". He wanted the number AND the rationale behind the process.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What are Google's major challenges going forward ? (Not competitors, but overall challenges).